Our team

Tots & Tumblers is fortunate to have some of the best coaching talent in Trinidad & Tobago. Our dedicated staff love their jobs immensely and the kids love that they make gym time fun and exciting.

Annette Telfer

Annette became involved in gymnastics when her daughter Michelle joined the Joan Knowles Gymnastic Club at the age of four. She was invited to run the recreational programme at the Joan Knowles Gymnastic Club, which she did for many years. Annette also headed the boys and girls gymnastic programmes at St. Andrew’s School where she saw the interest for the sport grow tremendously over the 18 years that she spent there. Acknowledging that the sport needed a permanent facility, Annette formed the Tots & Tumblers Gymnastic Club in 1999; this proved to be a “turning point” for gymnastics in Trinidad. Annette has seen gymnastics grow from a recreational sport to a highly competitive one, where a Women’s National Team has taken part in the CAC Games, Commonwealth Games (2002) and Pan American Interclub Championships. Indeed we can boast of two International Medals won by Tots & Tumblers Gymnasts, Ananda Fraser and Thema Williams, at the Pan American Interclub Championships in Florida (2003) and Mexico (2005) respectively.

Clifton McDowell

Former gymnast and member of the Gym Knights performing troupe. Clifton has been involved in gymnastics since his school days when he thrilled audiences with his prowess and superb tumbling skills. Clifton has been coaching for approximately seventeen years. He was appointed the National Coach in 2000 and has accompanied our gymnasts to the CAC, Commonwealth and Pan American Interclub Championships over the years. Clifton’s achievements in this sport are phenomenal and he continues to set his sights on more international competitions and individual and team medals. The secret of his success can be attributed to his passion for the sport and his versatility as coach. He teaches all our gymnasts - from our toddlers to our National Team Members with equal intensity and skill.

Deborah Knowles-Garcia

Deborah was introduced to gymnastics by her mother “Joanie” when she was just 4 years old. At this time, she also joined the Bentley Potter School of Dance where she was able to express her love of dance and fulfil her desire to perform. According to Deborah, “My Mum was and still is the rhythm of my heart and the root of my passion.” It soon became evident that Deborah was hooked on performing arts. In 1990 she decided to pursue her passion at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada where she had the privilege of performing and working with some of Toronto’s finest choreographers, while attaining her Diploma in Theatre Arts and Dance, together with her Royal Academy of Dance Teachers Certification. Debbie returned to Trinidad in 1994 full of inspiration to share. To date, some of the highlights of her career include the choreography of Grease, Double Back, & Roof Raiser as well as her appointment as National Gymnastic Coach in 2002 when she accompanied the National Women’s Gymnastic Team to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Irwin Yan Hip

Irwin joined Tots & Tumblers in 2000. He has become one of our senior coaches and works with both our recreational and competitive gymnasts. Irwin is especially wonderful with our little ones and joyful laughter can often be heard coming from his corner of the gym! His speciality is vault and he takes great pride in producing wonderful “vaulters”. Irwin regularly travels abroad with our team and has become an integral part of Tots & Tumblers.

Michelle St. Louis

Michelle has been involved in gymnastics since the 1980s when she began coaching at the Jean Pierre Complex with Joan Knowles and has been part of our team since 1987, when we ran the St. Andrew’s Gymnastic programme. Although quiet and un-assuming, Michelle is a remarkable person who is respected by all. Michelle multi-tasks; she helps with office administration and also judges at the various local meets during the competitive season. Michelle’s speciality is the balance beam.